Whether you chose facility management intentionally or found it by accident, success in this industry is built on a foundation of service and professional community. Brent Ward and Bobby LaRon discuss their unique "origin stories" and the critical role IFMA plays in transforming a job into a world-class career.
How do you transition from being an "unintentional" facility manager to a world-class professional? In this episode of the Connected FM Podcast, Bobby LaRon, member of IFMA's Global Board of Directors, and Brent Ward member of the IFMA Foundation Board of Trustees, share their personal pathways into the industry.
They dive deep into the essential "just-in-time" knowledge required for the field and why no FM can succeed as an island. You'll hear about:
Whether you are a student, a mid-career professional, or a seasoned veteran, this conversation offers a roadmap for "sharpening your saw" and finding fulfillment through service and mentorship within the global FM community.
Timestamps
Bobby R. LaRon: [00:00:00] Both for accidental FMs and for people who intentionally choose FM, there's a service component that drives a lot of us. Mm-hmm. Where we, we get a lot of value from serving others. Yes, we're managing, you know, the preventive maintenance of capital assets and fire, life safety, and so many other things.
But at the end of the day, you're doing this for the people.
Host: Welcome to Connected FM, a podcast connecting you to the latest insights, tools, and resources to help you succeed in facility management. This podcast is brought to you by IFMA, the leading professional association for facility managers. If you are ready to grow your network and advance in your career, go to ifma.org to get started.
In today's episode, IFMA Global Board Member Bobby Larrone sits down with the IFMA Foundation's Board of Trustees member Brent Ward to share their personal journeys into the FM [00:01:00] industry. They also discuss the essential role of being in a professional FM community, using education to build an FM career, and much more.
Now, let's get into it.
Brent Ward: I'm Brent Ward. I'm with the Oregon-Southwest Washington Chapter. I'm a facility management consultant working all over the country, and feature all over the world, actually. I'm working with some clients. have my CFM, FMP, and SFP, and love the facilities management environment.
It's you know, I bleed IFMA colors, I think, when, when someone cuts me. So, looking forward to talking about how to get into FM and how to make FM your career. What about you, Bobby?
Bobby R. LaRon: Yeah. Everybody's story is so unique in how they actually follow that pathway into FM. I'm Bobby Laron. I'm on the global board of IFMA, a facility manager for 16 years, and just love the industry, and I'm excited to hear your [00:02:00] origin story, Brent.
Brent Ward: Well, I was, raised in a construction family. 9, 10 years old I'm on my uncle's construction sites running backhoes and front-end loaders, and so grew up in construction. I've owned my own painting business for several years twice. Went to college, got a degree in mechanical and architectural design, and then started working.
And I had a child, and when I had a child, I realized that being a, a project manager for a large painting company was not conducive to be at home, be with my child, working 12, 14 hour days. So, I went and I got a job as a painter with the school district. Eventually, got promoted into a maintenance coordinator, which was handling all of their capital projects.
Fell in love with facilities and what all that represented during that period. And uh, when I got laid off due to budget cuts, I said, "That's it. I'm going to be a facility manager. I'm not gonna even apply for anything else. I'm not gonna accept any other [00:03:00] jobs." And I got that and haven't looked back since 2019.
I've worked in medical laboratories, I've worked in education, and I've worked in banking for that period. Yeah. And now I own my own consulting company for facilities management.
Bobby R. LaRon: Awesome. I, I knew about 80% of that, so thanks for filling in the blanks, though. Yeah. I basically got into FM... I'm literally the quintessential unintentional FM, as many of us are.
Mm-hmm. I was a mid-career professional that transitioned in, and I was a broadcast journalist and public affairs specialist in the Army, and basically got hired on into a broadcast organization after my time in the military i- in their production services department. But then there was a retirement within the organization, and I basically just raised my hand and said, "Let me do for the org what I've been doing for this department," and became the facilities director.
Wow. So my first job in FM- That's awesome ... was facilities director, so the thing I was thinking most [00:04:00] about was, "How do I get that just in time knowledge?" And so quickly became a member of the chapter in Oregon and southwest Washington, and formed that close circle of trusted advisors around me, other FM practitioners in the business- Yeah
that have been doing it for 20, 30, 40 years. Because what we know in FM is there's really nothing new under the sun. A, a lot of what your challenges are, other people are facing, too. So why reinvent the wheel?
Brent Ward: Right. Yeah, and it's, it's, it's so true that this network that we build in our local chapter is key to our success.
We can't be an island and succeed as facility managers. We have to rely on the knowledge and expertise of everybody around us. So what advice, direction would you give people who are starting off in their career to further it and become a top-notch, world-class facility manager?
Bobby R. LaRon: I think it starts and ends with IFMA.
You [00:05:00] get involved with IFMA at the chapter level form those close relationships with those trusted advisors I made mention of, and that initially is gonna get you about halfway there. Also leverage your service partners, your vendors, because they have the expert knowledge within their lane. Mm-hmm.
I can't tell you how many times I got smart on a piece of equipment or what have you just by diving deep with the vendors.
Brent Ward: Yeah.
Bobby R. LaRon: And so of course then you get into more f- formal education with the credentials and what they provide at IFMA, and that gives you the baseline of h- how you can, like, build your career from there.
Brent Ward: Yeah. No, I, I, I can't agree with you more. When I originally joined IFMA, I did not join the local chapter. Didn't think I had time, didn't wanna be involved, et cetera, so I didn't join a local chapter. I just joined a, a council. I was working for a non-profit at the time, so I joined the non-profit council.
And HVAC company called on me [00:06:00] and wanted to be our HVAC company, so we were sitting there talking over lunch, and I mentioned that I was a member of IFMA, and she said, "N- no, you're not." And I went, "Yeah, I am." And I wasn't a member of the local chapter, but I was a member of global, and she says, " you need to join the local chapter."
And I said, "Nah, nah, I haven't got time for that." So she comped me the next event, and I haven't looked back since. I've been part of IFMA ever since. It was a, a different experience than I anticipated, than other organizations that I've been a part of. And have loved every minute of it ever since because of that, that camaraderie, because we're truly here to help each other grow, not competing with each other.
And that feeling is amazing. And, and that was, believe it or not, only five years ago.
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Bobby R. LaRon: It go- time goes by quick- Yeah ... if you think about it. But it's funny you should mention one of our local chapter members grabbed you and said, "Y- you know, you need to be with us." That's the same thing that happened to me in 2013.
Our [00:08:00] chapter was manning the booth at the Oregon Convention Center's Facilities Expo, and I had taken my team member facility manager there because we were gonna do much like what we do here, s- speak with the service partners and understand the new tech that's coming out. And and then somebody grabbed me by the arm and had, "Have you heard of IFMA?"
And I go, "IF what?" Yeah. "What's that?" And then the rest is history. And I wouldn't be where I'm at today without IFMA. I've had two roles in FM. One in the broadcast media sector and one in ambulatory healthcare. But the throughput for the past 16 years has been IFMA. I can always go back to that well.
Brent Ward: Yeah. You know, you get out of IFMA what you put into IFMA. If you sit on the sidelines, don't go to very many chapter meetings, don't come to World Workplace, don't go to Facility Fusion, that's what you're gonna get out of IFMA.
Bobby R. LaRon: 100%,
Brent Ward: yeah. And so, you know, if you jump in [00:09:00] and apply yourself and get to know people and get involved and know the vendors that are involved and know the FMs that are involved, and come to events like this and get to know the staff at IFMA the next thing you know, you're doing a podcast.
Or y- you're on the global board or on the, on the foundation board like I am, and part of chapters and part of all kinds of things with IFMA. And it's that giving back that gives me fulfillment, but it also makes me happy that I can help others to grow in their FM career by doing these things. But you can't do it sitting on the sidelines.
It doesn't work.
Bobby R. LaRon: And, and it's a natural fit for most FMs. Both for accidental FMs and for people who intentionally choose FM, there's a service component that drives a lot of us. Mm-hmm. Where we, we get a lot of value from serving others. For me, I, it was a continuation of my time in the military, [00:10:00] and then I went into the non-profit sector at first.
And because I had missed that esprit de corps you, you have when everybody on your team is focused on mission. That's really how I look at it. Yeah. Yes, we- we're managing, you know, the preventive maintenance of capital assets and fire, life safety, and so many other things.
But at the end of the day, you're doing this for the people.
Brent Ward: Yes.
Bobby R. LaRon: Yeah.
Brent Ward: And that's, I think what sometimes , is missed, is we have to recognize we are in a service industry.
Bobby R. LaRon: Right.
Brent Ward: We are servicing the people who occupy the buildings that we manage. And that service also then needs to be turned around and given to our fellow FMs by becoming involved in IFMA in all phases so that we can share that love for facilities management with others.
Bobby R. LaRon: And the way that IFMA meets you where you are as far as, like, a menu of options of how you'd wanna serve or give back.
Brent Ward: Yeah.
Bobby R. LaRon: I mean, with, of course, [00:11:00] with the triple Cs, the chapters, communities, and councils, but with so many other avenues of approach to basically feed your passion. Yes. Sharpen your saw.
What do you need out of IFMA? If you can identify that then all you do is walk down that path, and the resources are there for you.
Brent Ward: Yeah. In our chapter, every quarter, we do what we call an IFMA 101, and it's virtual, mostly for new members, but others attend as well. And we explain everything that IFMA has to offer to make their job life easier.
You know, in education, you know, yes, we know we have the FMP, the SFP, and the CFM. But there's also all of the, the webinars that they do. There's the blogs. There's the podcast. There's the newsletters that come out. There's all of these things that if we don't take advantage of we're not gonna grow as, as an FM.
And none of us has time to be, to, [00:12:00] to listen to every podcast or read every blog and all of that information. But if you find your path, what is your favorite way of learning? Do you like visual things as well as audio? Then there's webinars, and there's, there's podcasts. But if you're just wanna read, then there's other methods as well.
And so the same information comes at us in different directions, and so we can take advantage of it no matter what our favorite way of receiving it is. If you wanna run around with earbuds and listen to podcasts, they're there for you. So having that variety of means of growing in your career is something that IFMA does so well, and I really appreciate that.
Bobby R. LaRon: Yeah, and before ChatGPT, there was IFMA Engage, right?
Brent Ward: Yeah. Yeah.
Bobby R. LaRon: I mean, to your point, though, about where can you find that knowledge IFMA Engage is something, you know, I've leveraged quite a bit because you're, you're tapping into the boots on the ground folks that are dealing with the issue every single day.
And And [00:13:00] that's how I consume information. Engage is a great platform for me in that regard. But to your earlier point, you know, the credentials, for- formal education, white paper sharing. Yeah. You know, these are also vehicles for that, I, I would say.
Brent Ward: Yeah. Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. And, and having the credentials has helped me so much in my career.
More and more employers are requiring some of IFMA's credentials, whether it's the FMP or the CFM. So getting those in place is critical to your career and growing in your career. And IFMA makes it so easy 'cause they offer it in various ways that you can, that you can get it, you know? Yeah.
You can do an in-person class. You can do, you can do it virtually online all by yourself. You know, there's so many options. And so again, whatever's best for you, you can do. So, take advantage of all those things and, and do what IFMA [00:14:00] has available.
Bobby R. LaRon: Absolutely. And I, I have the CFM and FMP as well, and I can tell you that y- yes, employers are demanding that now even more and more.
But the other thing is, is you have a common vocabulary with other FMs across the globe.
Brent Ward: Yeah.
Bobby R. LaRon: And that to me, I find the most value in, is like we all know exactly what we're talking about when you go back to the core principles of FM.
Brent Ward: Yeah.
Bobby R. LaRon: So.
Brent Ward: And that's, that's a good point. The, core principles that FM has those are the critical areas, and knowing those and being able to have training for each one of those. So if you do the career path-
Host: Mm-hmm ...
Brent Ward: on, on IFMA, then you know which ones of those you need to bone up on and, and get, g- to maybe take that class. So it's great that they've offered all of those things.
Bobby R. LaRon: Yeah. I agree. And you know, we were talking earlier about, you know, how, how we got into FM and [00:15:00] how we got involved with IFMA. And I, I kind of in the beginning of my career needed IFMA so much. I really leaned into IFMA. And now y- the joy I get in participation in IFMA is how I can give back, especially with the, the students and the young professionals coming into the, Yeah
profession. They're helping us out by making FM their career of choice. It's so we actually have someone to pass the baton to. Yeah. You know?
Brent Ward: That's a valid, valid point, and I think that's one of the things that I enjoy about being- On the foundation board is working with the students here being involved in, in finding sponsors f- to, to give them scholarships and tho- those opportunities because that is the next generation, and they need the support and help and love that we can give them to nurture them in their career and to continue to grow.
And exposing them to IFMA is invaluable to their career.
Bobby R. LaRon: We, we were talking earlier before the mics were on, and we mentioned y- the way that IFMA's d- has done it [00:16:00] for a while now is the students that are coming from all around the globe scholarship winners, what have you, they, they form a cohort that travels through World of Workplace together.
Mm-hmm. And so they're creating these w- week-long memories of this group of people in this point in time. Fast-forward 20 years, that cohort's gonna be, you know, leveraging each other their entire career. Yeah. Leaning on each other, relying on each other their entire career.
Brent Ward: Yes.
Bobby R. LaRon: And it all started here.
Brent Ward: Yes, absolutely, and that's, that's a phenomenal thing. I, I loved hearing some of their stories. You know, they're, they're not all in FM degree programs. They're in construction management. They're in project management. They're in various areas, but they're realizing through the scholarship program and being here what FM is, and they're falling in love with it.
So- Yeah ... that's great for our next generation. It's fantastic.
Bobby R. LaRon: Well, and IFMA's really followed a tried-and-true model of these chapters around the globe. Yeah. Because [00:17:00] I w- I'm a former Rotarian, and the way Rotary does it is very similar in that you have your clubs, you know, but you have Interact in the high schools, Rotaract in the colleges, and then the Rotary Clubs for your professionals.
And IFMA has those avenues of approach, too. Yeah. We're getting in more and more schools more and more student-led chapters, which is a great thing to see. Yeah,
Brent Ward: it's phenomenal. Well, Bobby, it's been a pleasure chatting with you about facility management and making it your career and, and the value that IFMA brings and, and taking advantage of all of that value.
It's been a pleasure. Thank you much.
Bobby R. LaRon: Yes, sir. Thank you.
Host: Thanks for tuning in to the Connected FM podcast. If you enjoyed today's episode, please take a moment to rate and review the show because it really helps us reach more listeners just like you. And don't forget to hit the subscribe button so you never miss an episode.
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